Two blocked kicks in one afternoon aren’t a matter of luck. They’re born in film rooms and walkthroughs, revealed in the minor tells that set great special-teams units apart. On Sunday in Philadelphia, the Eagles showcased preparation by swatting away two Rams field-goal attempts. Special teams flipped the game twice: first with Jalen Carter’s block and then with Jordan Davis’ dramatic finish.
Early Spark
With 8:46 left in the afternoon, Jalen Carter knifed through and got a hand on Joshua Karty’s 36-yard attempt.
Special-teams coordinator Michael Clay praised Carter’s knack for dissecting protections. “J.C. is such a cerebral player when it comes to field-goal block.” He continued, “He does things that some people don’t have a knack for, whether it’s the film that we watch on Friday or during the game. I think he caught something (on Sunday). I don’t want to spill his secrets, but he caught something where he could get that jump. Then his technique with J.D., we call it a V-technique to try and uproot those guards.”
Carter himself was humble: “This is what they got us for.”
The Eagles' Closer
The Rams’ last possession came with the Eagles up by a single point. With three seconds on the clock, Karty lined up for a 44-yard game-winner at Lincoln Financial Field. Clay’s unit and J.D. were ready again.
Special Teams coach Michael Clay explained their preparation.
“Jalen Carter studies field-goal protection very well. He understands it. Same with J.D. We have our meetings on Fridays, talk about who we want to attack on their field-goal team, and everybody’s interested in it.”
Davis executed perfectly, blocking the kick and rumbling 61 yards for a game-sealing touchdown. Davis was as modest as Carter. “I don’t want to be a flash-play player. I want to be an every-down guy.” His transformation proves the link between preparation and performance.
The Rams tried to seal the victory at the end, but the Eagles stole the game with their preparation and trust.
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